Circuit-closer for rain-signals.



W. G. CONWAY.

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR RAIN SIGNALS.

lr'rucmon FILED FEB. 20. 1915.

1,174,827. Patented Mar. 7,1916.

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ciacurncnosmz. ion earn-sienna- I To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. (ponwar, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Closers for Rain-Signals, of which the following'isa specification.-

'This. invention relates to signals and more particularlylo rain signals. The principal object of the invention is to rovide a simple and efficient device which is adapted particularly forhousehold use to warn the occupant that it is raining so-that windows and doors may be closed to revent dama e to furniture, curtains an other house old appurtenances.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character employing a noveltype of fuse or controlling member which is unaffected by ordinary moisture or humidity in the atmosphere but which will be disrupted when contacted by a few drops of water.

' provide a device of this character which is.

Still another object of the invention is to operable upon the disruptin of the fuse or controlling member to comp etc a normally open electrical circuit, including'a bell and a switch.

Further objects of the invention will ap pear as the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing,

which forms a part of this application, and in which Figure l'is-a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, .1 represents a base of any suitable ma- P as shown.

terial porting heads 2 and 3 in separated relation,

The head 2 has extending therethrough an insulatin sleeve 4 which-projects beyond the vertical faces, as shown in Fig. 2 and at one end has secured thereto a s ring retainer cap 5. This sleeve has slida 1y mounted thereina plunger 6 having an Speciflcation'of Iietters Patent.

which has mounted thereon the sup-" over the wire 12, contact terminal 13,

f iaenad Mar. '1, 1916.

Application and Febrnary 20,1 915. steam. 9,658.

contact l0, head 7, contact. 11,'contact.14, wire 15, including the switch 16 and back to the opposite side of the battery. Connecting the plunger 6 and ca 5 is a s iral s ring 17 which normally te rids to drti vy the head '11 so as to complete the electrical circuit, and in order'to hold the head out of engagement with said-contacts I provide a novel type of fuse consisting of a specially treated strip of tissue or rice paper 18 provided wit reinforcements 19 and 20 at opposite ends, the former having a single hole to be engaged by the hook 8 and the latter having a pair of spaced holes to be engaged by the hooks 21 on the bracket 22 which is ivoted to the head 3. The length of these uses or controlling members 1s such that when stretched etween the bracket and the hook 8' they will hold the head 7. out of engage- 7 into engagement with the contacts 10 and y ment with the contacts 10 and 11, and thus prevent the completion of the electrical circuit, the plunger6 being electrically separated from the contacts by the sleeve 4.

It has been found in practice that by specially treating the controlling members or fuses that they may be rendered impervious to ordinary moistures, suchas the humidity of-the atmosphere prior to a rain but which are rendered pervious and disruptable upon actual contact with rain.

7 In using the device the same is preferably placed upon a window sill and it will, of course, be understood that a plurality of these devices may be connected up in parallel in an electrical circuit and placed on every window sill in the house, so that upon being contacted with rain the applicant will be notified immediately by the sounding of the bell and can close the windows and doors to revent damage to the household goods.

at is claimed is A circuit closer comprising a base, supporting heads mounted upon said base and arranged in spaced relation, one of said heads being provided with a transverse opening, an ,insulated sleeve extending through said opening and projecting beyond the surface of said head, said sleeve being interior-1y threaded adjacent its inner extremity, a retainer top threadedly mounted ioo having the inner end thcreofopen, an enupon breaking of the same the plunger will ble strip connecting said hooks whereby JOHN F. SHAUGHNESS-Y.

{ larged head formed on the outer extremity be actuated to bridge said contacts. 10/

of said tubular plungers, a hook extending In testimony whereof-I afiix my signature through said head andinto said plunger, a in presence of two Witnesses.

5 coil retractile sprinlg connectinfg sa1d retainer WILLIAM G. 1 CONWAY.

top with said hoo a hook ormed on the Witnesses: remaining supporting head and a disrupta- SUSIE CONWAY, 

